Criminal Mischief (07/31/2019)

BANGOR – A man is in custody after allegedly robbing a Bangor credit union.

At approximately 8 a.m. on the morning of July 29, Bangor Police responded to a report of a bank robbery at the Penobscot County Federal Credit Union located at 466 Main Street. A male suspect entered the bank and produced a note to the teller demanding money. The suspect then left with an undisclosed amount of cash.

Responding patrol units located a male matching the description of the bank robber walking on Main Street a short distance from the bank. This male was taken into custody and was interviewed by detectives of the Bangor Police Criminal Investigation Division.

As a result of this investigation, Joseph Vandam, a 61-year-old transient, was arrested and charged with Robbery and Violation of Conditions of Release. Mr. Vandam had been released on bail conditions stemming from an unrelated arrest.

Vandam was taken to the Penobscot County Jail and remains there as of press time.

No further information is available at this time as the incident is still under investigation. There were no injuries as a result of Mr. Vandam’s conduct.

Bangor burglar arrested

BANGOR – A Bangor man was arrested in connection with a number of area burglaries.

On July 9, Bangor PD began investigating a burglary with extensive damage at the Columbia Street Baptist Church. Detectives from the Criminal Investigation Division subsequently identified the suspect as 32-year-old Christopher Barkac of Bangor. Further investigation linked Barkac to recent burglaries at 118 Harlow Street, Sawyer Arena and Mansfield Stadium as well.

Barkac has been arrested and is now facing four counts of felony burglary, class B; two counts of felony Aggravated Criminal Mischief, class C; several counts of felony theft and a misdemeanor count of Criminal Mischief.

Animals seized in Solon

SOLON (AP) — State animal welfare agents have seized about 80 animals they say are in need of “urgent care” from a property in Maine.

The Morning Seninel reports that dogs, cats, chickens and horses were among the animals taken to an emergency shelter when state Animal Welfare Program officials executed a search warrant at a Solon home Tuesday morning.

State officials said in a news release that the animals will be cared for and given medical and behavioral evaluations.

Officials say that after the court determines custody, possible new homes can be found for the animals with the help of shelter partners across the state.

Authorities say charges may be filed, but they wouldn’t disclose the exact location of the property or who the animals belonged to.

The investigation is ongoing.

Father-son drug bust

WATERVILLE – A father and son are looking at drug charges after a traffic stop led to arrests.

The Maine Drug Enforcement Agency says a father and son from Lagrange faces drug charges following their arrest in Waterville on July 22.

As part of an ongoing MDEA investigation, drug agents, State Police and Waterville Police stopped a 2008 Chevy Silverado pickup that was traveling south on I-95 in Waterville. The occupants of the vehicle were 24-year-old Lloyd MacFarlane, Jr. and his father 55-year-old Lloyd MacFarlane Sr., both of Lagrange. A search of the truck found over 400 30-milligram Oxycodone tablets that were going to be resold.

Both were arrested and charged with aggravated trafficking in scheduled drugs.

MDEA Agents then searched the home the men share on Medford Road in Lagrange, seizing additional Oxycodone, eleven firearms – two of which were loaded handguns – and just under $30,000 in cash, likely the proceeds from drug sales. In addition to the drugs, guns and money, MDEA seized the truck and will seek criminal forfeiture of the vehicle. The street value of the drugs exceeds $15,000.

Both men remain in the Kennebec County Jail and made their initial court appearance on July 24 in Augusta.

Arrest in Lincoln arson

LINCOLN (AP) — Prosecutors in Maine say a man has been charged with arson in connection with a fire that badly damaged two businesses in the northern part of the state.

The Bangor Daily News reports Cody Ferguson has also been charged with aggravated criminal mischief and other charges. Police arrested him in May after the Maine State Fire Marshal’s office found that pipes to propane tanks at a building in Lincoln were vandalized and propane ignited due to a broken pipe.

Ferguson’s attorney, Hunter Tzovarras, says Ferguson has “consistently denied” causing the fire and there’s no physical evidence that shows he started it. Ferguson’s expected to be arraigned on Aug. 12 and is free on bail.